Onam is a festival associated with the story of Vamanadeva who came down for Mahabali. It is celebrated for about ten days culminating on the Dwadashi in the suhkla paksha in the month of Bhadrapada in the Kerala hindu calendar.
Being the grandson of Prahalada,
there is no doubt that Bali grew to be an able and righteous king. He, by
lineage, was an asura.
He had conquered all the worlds and was also gaining immense power due to the numerous yagna he performed under the guidance of the asura guru Sri Shukracharya. Shukracharya adviced him to conduct Ashvamedha yagna (somewhere I heard it was 100 Ashwamedha yagnas) which will make him the ruler for ever. The leader of devas, Indra, was not able to win devaloka back from the Daitya king, he sought guidance from eth deva guru Sri Brihaspathi who in turn asked him to seek help from Aditi, devamata and rishi Kasyapa’s wife. Aditi prayed to Mahavishnu to help her son by destroying Mahabali. Mahavishnu told Aditi that Mahabali is a very righteous king and there is no reason for him to be defeated as he will be an ideal king for the worlds. He can only be defeated if he is cursed by his guru. He blessed Aditi to be his mother when he takes the next avatara.
Mahavishnu was born to Rishi Kasyapa and Aditi and was named Vamana. He started learning and mastering the Vedas very early in his life. He is traditionally depicted as a short dark person. Vamana reached the yagnashala around the time when Mahabali was about to complete his yaga and was giving gifts the brahmana’s sought. Vamanadeva wanted to test Mahabali’s resolve, shradha and break his pride. He asks Mahabali for 3 steps of land measured by his feet. Mahabali was surprised and asked why don’t you ask for more, for which Vamanadeva replied, for who three steps are not enough nothing in the world can satisfy him. Shukracharya sensed that Vamana was Mahavishnu himself and dissuaded Mahabali from giving the boon. Mahabali said if it is Mahavishnu himself, who am I to give him anything ? All of this is given by him and what good deeds did I do to earn such a blessing. Sukhracharya even went and sat inside the spout of the kamandala of the king, to prevent him from giving the boon (traditionally in India offer was always confirmed by taking some water in ones hand and give it to the reciever’s hand).
Mahabali trying removing the obstruction in the process injuring the guru’s eyes and hence earning the curse of his guru. Guru Sukhracharya from then on is depicted with an injured eye. With the first step Vamana covered of Bhooloka and with the next step he covered the devaloka unable to keep his third step he looked at Mahabali, who presented his head (symbolizing the destruction of his ego and pride). Mahabali lost his lordship of Bhooloka and devaloka because of his pride but Vamandeva, ever compassionate one, asked Mahabali for any boon he seeks. Mahabali only wanted to be with the Lord himself!
Mahabali was sent to Sutala (Patala as some refer) to rule over it, along with his father Virochana. This place was supposed to be without disease, pain and full of happiness and joy. Hence I do not believe Mahabali was sent to Sutala as a punishment. Mahabali asked his Lord to allow him to return to his people once a year during the monsoon, just like how Ayodhya decorated itself with lamps, Mahabali is welcomed with colourful pookolam. And at the center of the pookolam Trikarappan is kept.
Out of love, when Mahabali reached Sutala, Vamanadeva became the guard of the new land for Mahabali. Mahalaskhmi herself came down and requested Mahabali to let her stay there so that she could be with her Lord.
This is a festival celebrated from time immemorial and even today’s Tamilnadu used to celebrate it too but was lost in the last millennium due to the brutal violence of the invading armies who wanted to annihilate the belief systems of the native people.
Additional points to ponder:
Bali or Mahabali was the son of Virochana and grandson of Prahalada. Prahalada was the son of Hiranyakashipu who in turn was born to Diti and Kasyapa rishi. It is very fascinating that Mahavishnu took two avatars within such a short span of time and that too for the bhakts of the same family!
Vamana was the son of Rishi Kasyapa and Aditi, hence becomes the great grand uncle of Mahabali.
Traditionally Vamana was depicted as short dark brahmana and Bali with his tuft of hair and janeu.
Inca world worshipped Viracocha as the bringer of civilization 😉
Image Sources :
By Unknown author - http://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/97348.html?mulR=732
1, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9500061
This post is an outcome of the thoughts
from two of my sources of inspiration to explore Indian history, TrueIndology
(who is in exile in twitter @TIinExile) and T S Krishnan (@tskrishnan).
Though I have been enamored by history and in my own way trying to reconcile what
I see, experience and was taught in school. This is my humble tribute to these
masters.
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